Instead of stat increases like you propose I'd rather they add either better set bonuses or more bonuses to the top line gear, that way the only difference is pretty much slightly reduced/increased durations and or ranges of abilities in addition to superior looks ( and I mean WAY better looks than the generic attainable gear).

it doesn't.

Korn Seen it all Kavinsky Nightcall

156. Why am I always the one getting stunned? 157. Just my Luck, All my cooldowns are not up and I'm at 50% health. Lame Operatives only go after weak and dying people.... wait a minute.. 158. Yet another stun... through a full resolve bar. AWESOME! not really 159. I think stuns put a big Neon Colored sign over my head that says: HEY GUYS, KILL THIS DUDE THAT CAN'T MOVE AND YOU GET A PRIZE!

I agree, one of the things that kind of shocked me was the absense of realm abilities akin to DAOC and Warhammer.

Your distinction that time doesn't equate to skill is incorrect. The longer you do something, whether it's a desk job or something intricate like Brazillian Jiu jistu, it is natural to become skilled in some particular fashion simply because of repitition and time invested. This becomes even more appearent when you get new people in. Now, some people are just more naturally talented and thus, progress much faster and even surpase someone who's been doing the same thing for awhile. Gear makes a difference, sure. It's especially appearent when you see the gap between a fresh 50 and a full champion equiped character. My personal opinion is that you'll be able to tell whether someone is skilled or not even with the gear imbalance. I've seen full on battlemasters that were pure garbage, and I've seen some fresh 50's that even though they died quicker, you could tell they knew what they were doing as far as utilizing their classes abilities and cooldowns. I think it's fine as is. the biggest gap is fresh 50 to champion. Champ to BM is marginal in comparison.

they've been fairly balanced on my server, sometimes you run into a inq heavy grp and my premade tears them up real quick> Sabo/DF gunslinger/ vigilance guardian/ Hybrid sage/Medic commando. tanks are the latest fad though, because of the charge/choke, as well as invuln bubbles. Once you figure out how to counter these turds, you're golden. If they buff anything on this class, I'm gonna abuse it as long as it takes, just sayin'

+1 wanted to add, sometimes get terrain issues where you can't take cover near ledges and stuff.

I'd gladly duel you, but I'm on Kinrath Spider. maybe someone else on your server will step up.

are you kidding me? Now I think you are either lying about your gear, you are attacking the wrong targets, or you haven't truly played a sabo/df build because you are flat out wrong about damage and survivability of that particular build, which has just about every defensive ability either enhanced, or on a lower c/d timer. it's pretty asinine, to think that I don't know any better about gunslinger if I'm having lots of success at it.

the problem is, everyone is expecting to use aimedshot/charged burst as thier bread and butter skills and in all honesty they aren't. The second issue is people expecting to be nearly invisible or invincible once behind cover. The funniest thing is, I'm not even specc'd into sharpshooting and my aimed shot does around 3.2-5.2k on crits to non tanks. I feel that the only reason you want to take cover is to either a) ambush someone b)keep from getting cc'd/charged c)finish off your rotation for the kill. I fall into category C, I only go into cover once I have shock charge, vital shot, and shrap bomb on the target, then I lay on sabotage charge and speed shot > quickshot, then bug out. this allows you a lot more flexibility and control over the battlefield than just sitting in the back trying to kill people at max range. I'd actually say that we are more of a midfield class than anything because that allows us to protect everyone in your group while also reaching into the enemy backline and sending their healers back to the respawn point.

I'm a 68BM gunslinger in full battlemaster, minus boots, helm, and gloves with around 682 expertise. You sound like a sharpshooter spec and I'm sorry to say, that it's supbar due to being physical damage and being the least mobile spec. I'm a sabo/DF and the thing about almost every skill from both of those trees is that they do kinetic or bleed damage, and those ignore armor. I drop dps spec tanks like nothing, and the defensive tanks do take a bit because of all thier defensive cooldowns, but everything else is fair game. if you spec into sabo, it reduces the cost of a lot of the abilities and you forget sabotage puts coolhead and defense screen on a 1min timer. Tracer missle is trash, you'll get a few bounty hunters once in awhile that hand it to you hard, but we as a class have all the right counters to the BH. I'm not sure what your spec is or what your rotation is, but something is off if you feel the way you do. My gripes with cover is a) bugs out near ledges and on some terrain b) can't take cover if rooted. Everyone saying that we die fast if focused.... It happens to every class.

What class are you, and you must go against some really sucky snipers/gunslingers. As a gunslinger myself, I think it's definitely the most underrated class in the game, but also one of the best. The learning curve is pretty large due to the cover mechanic, but if you can find a balance between cover and mobility you'll do fine.

what spec are you? If you are sabo/df hybrid it crits up to 3k per person and on the global c/d. very good for a spammable aoe that can get you a bunch of Killing blows. Don't knock it.

all I do is drop a Freighter fly-by by his pillar. He's either gonna eat the aoe or come out so I can shoot him. Either way, he's dead.